'The last thing I won was a soft toy at Hull Fair'

FORMER HULL CABBIE WINS LUXURY BEACHSIDE HOUSE WORTH £4M

- By DEBORAH HALL

A MAN living off his pension in a one-bedroom council flat in Hull has won a £4m seaside mansion, saying “it will change my life forever”.

James Moughton, 71, claimed the keys to the luxurious beachside property in West Sussex, along with £250,000 in cash, in the latest Omaze Million Pound House Draw. He said: “The place is massive, especially compared to my little flat; the dog shower in the garage is bigger than my current bathroom.”

The thrilled grandad is a former taxi driver of 20 years, whose last win was a soft toy from Hull Fair. He said: “When I was a cabbie, I used to drop people off at fancy homes - now I've got one of my own!”

James's exquisite four-bedroom property in Sussex, offering panoramic sea views, direct beach access and a hot tub, comes mortgage-free and with all legal fees covered. He can choose whether to live in the house, rent it out for a supplementary income or sell it whenever he wishes to become a cash multimillionaire.

The father of two bought his £4m winning entry for just £25 as part of his Omaze subscription, in the hope of winning a house that would change his family’s lives - but never thought it would ever become a reality. “It’s a feeling I couldn’t even have dreamed of before,” he said.

He plans to bring daughter, Katie, 28, son, Michael, 29, granddaughter, Harper, four, and grandson, Kasper, three, together at his luxurious new home for “a big seaside celebration.” The ecstatic grandad said: “They're all over the moon for me.

“I can’t wait to have all the family come and stay - every day will feel like a holiday here. I’m from a council estate, but now I own a coastal paradise.